Centrifugal water-clarifier.



W. K. RICHARDSON. GENTRIFUGAL WATER GLARIPIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.15, 1910.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

SSHEETS-SHEET l.

W. K. RICHARDSON.

GENTRIFUGAL WATER OLARIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED 13150.15, 1910 Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2 omm W. K. RICHARDSON. OENTRIFUGAL WATER GLARIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.15, 1910.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

ED STATES PATENT WILLIAM K. RICHARDSON, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

' CEN'I'RIFUGAL WATER-CLARIFIER.

1,014,849.. sp fi of Patent- Patented Jan. 16,1912. Application filed December 15, 1910. Serial No. 597,581.

To all whom it may concern: tion due to centrifugal force; to provide in- Be it known that I, WIL'LIAM K. RIoH- terchangeable means for these discharge out- \ARDSON, a citizen of the United States, relets, as their area of cross-section must vary siding at Leavenworth, in the county of according to the turbidity of the water and 60 5 Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have inthe volume of water handled per increment vented a new and useful Centrifugal VVaterof time considered from an economic stand- Clarifier, of'which the following is a specipoint; to discharge the water as near the fication. center of rotation as it is received into the This invention relates to certain improvemachine; to utilize the centrifugal force of 55 ments in mechanical clarification of water. the water within the area of cross-section It also relates to the purification of water of the intake of the machine; to provide the by removal of organic matter contained priming means in a machine of this charactherein by centrifugal force. ter, and also to provide means for a rod or In view of the state of the art it is deemed journal packing, in a centrifugal machine 7 necessary to call attention to certain conthat will permit or make practicable the struction and physical conditions which high speed necessary for the purification must exist .in the clarification and purificaand clarification of water by centrifugal tion of water on a commercial basis, so that force. it may be of general utility. Great cen lVit-h these objects in view my invention 75 trifugal force must be employed for the abconsists in the construction and combinasolute clarification of water. lVhile the tion. of parts as hereinafter described and sands, mud, and silts are readily subsided by claimed, of which: centrifugal force, it is more difficult to pre- Figure 1, is a vertical cross-section of my cipitate the finer divided and pulverized machine; Fig. 2, is a section on line 11-11 so matter, such as the silts of abrasion, the of Fig. 1;' Fig. 3, is a vertical cross-section metallic oxids and bacteria. The water must on an enlarged plan showing liquid seal be in a comparatively quiescent state during with packing gland which is omitted in Fig. precipitation of the impurities. All racing 1; Fig. 4, is perspective of impeller worm; of the fluid, shock and eddy currents must Fig. 5, is a fractional horizontal section, 30 be avoided. The impure water containing omitting the outer casing, through the apex the precipitations should be discharged in of prisms, showing position of nozzles and a direction counter to the direction of rotabaffle plates; Fig. 6, is top view of centriftion for the peripheral velocity of the-maugal valve omitting the balls; Fig. 7, is a chine at this point is great and the conservaperspective view of assembled batiie plates 35 tion of power by the proper direction of used in pockets 30; Fig. 8, is a crosssection discharge of the water carrying the prelengthwise of one of the mud nozzles. cipitants is of great importance to the utility 1, indicates baseplate, having discharge ofthe machine. The surfaces upon which openings 2, for pure water, and discharge the precipitants are thrown must have sufopening 3, for impure water; 4, is circular 4o ficient pitch from a radial line that cenretaining basin, having a vertical wall 5, trifugal force may deflect the impurities tocast integral with base-plate l, as shown in ward suitable discharge outlets, for if the Fig. 1; 6, is a step .to carrythe shaft 7 to angle of pitch is less than 45 degrees, not which is attachedthe rotating parts ofthe assisted by the scouring action of the water, machine; 8, is a steel shell, bolted to' the 45 friction and adhesion will hold the precipibase 1, and the top 9, and forms the outer tants on this surface and they will not be casing of the machine, the top 9, having an discharged from the machine. intake 10.

The object of this invention is to produce The central portion of 9 is cored in the a machine capable of discharging the precasting and when babbitted receives shaft 50 cipitants from the machine without employ- 11, which is provided at top of member 9 ing the scouring action of the water and with centrifugal liquid seal 12, shown in thus minimize the amount of water neces Fig. 3. the operation and description of sary to abrade and carry the precipitants, which are as follows: The thimble a which and lessen the agitation of the water due to slips over shaft 11 is retained in position 55 velocity of flow; to discharge the impurities" after adjustment by set screw b the upin a direction counter to tangential direcperend of the thimble being threaded for an upward inchnedannular projection to g which is bolted the centrally perforated disk a, forming a V shaped pocket or chamber. The top of easing 9, is cored out to form the chamber 14, in which the members a and c rotate, 011 the upper portion of member 9 is bolted the member (Z which forms the top of chamber 14, having a downward flange at its perforation, and provided with a left-hand thread on its lower periphery for the reception of ring a. Mercury is used in this centrifugal liquid seal, oil could be used but member c is rather small to resist the effect of a high vacuum.

The operation of this device is as follows: Mercury is poured into the V shaped chamber until about 5 full, the clearance between members a and d is then filled with water; when the machine is put in motion centrifugal force holds the liquid to the outer extremity of the V shaped pocket, atmospheric pressure tending to force air through the clearance passage between members a and 0?, drives a portion of the mercury in the passage formed by members a and 6 toward the periphery of the disk 6, thus shortening the column of liquid 011 the lower side of e and increasing it on the upper side, causing an unbalanced column of liquid acted upon by centrifugal force alone, on the other side counter-balanced by a shallow or less length of liquid acted upon .by the components, centrifugal force and atmospheric pressure, said atmosphericpressure corresponding to the degree of vacuum sustained by the lift of the suction.

This device provides a perfect seal, is comparatively frictionless and requires no attention, there is no wear nor heating of the parts where any of the present means are employed to accomplish the same results, viz. the maintenance of a vacuum, it conserves power and makes practicable high. speed machines of this character, for the machine is constantly changing its center of gravity and a vibratory action therefore takes place, due to the unequal distribution of the sedimentation on the deflecting surfaces of the machine, which is caused principally by the difference in character of the precipitants, for the water varies in its percentage of sand, mud, silts and organic matter and all of them have their own individual co-efiicient of friction and specific at times the planes are absolutely gravity;

at other times they purged of precipitants,

are somewhat foul.

The rotating parts within the outer casing constitute the purifying cylinder of this machine, of which 15, indicates the top, to

which is bolted the steel pocket casing 17, and driver 16. The driver 16 is a disk, having a shoulder turned on its inner face at periphery, and also provided on this face with a shaft hub centrally perforated to receive shaft 11, which is pressed therein and rigidly retained. By bolting driver 16 to member 15, the impeller chamber 18 isv formed.

The impeller blades which are indicated by 19 are cast integral with top 15; their construction and position are shown in Fig. 2, and their function is similar to any inclosed type of single impeller centrifugal pumps, viz; to prevent racing of the fluid and to subject the water without slippage to the rotary velocity of the machine.

On the upper extremity of member 15 is bolted an annular disk 20, centrally perforated and flanged upward as shown in Fig. 1, the chamber 21 thus formed is cored in the casting 15 and is for the purpose of receiving the disk end of sleeve 22; on the upper end of sleeve 22 is cut a left hand thread, which engages the bottom central opening in top 9; the lower end of sleeve terminates with a horizontal rim beveled on both surfaces and accurately turned, forming a disk, as shown in Fig. 1, which remains stationary. When the machine is primed, water floods chamber 21, the water therein being acted upon by centrifugal force when the machine is in operation,,rcsists the passage of air over the periphery of member 22, as it enters the passage way between members 20 and 22, constituting a centrifugal liquid seal 23. In the central bore of member 15 and over the shaft 11 is slipped the screw 24, as shown in Fig. 1. A profile view of screw 24: is shown in Fig. 4; said screw consists of a central web forming a sleeve, to which is cast the projecting helical blades 24;' forming a worm, their angle of pitch being opposite to the direction of rotation. The object of the screw is to utilize the centrifugal force of the'water within the area of intake, or central bore of member 15, and its specific construction prevents the passage of water due to centrifugal force, from reducing or destroying the action of suction, by forcing the water in the direction of flow.

25 indicates a sleeve, which fits into the recesses or shoulders turned on the inner faces of peripheries of members 16 and 16 and forms the inner wall of the purifying chamber 26; attached to sleeve 25 are baflie plates 25 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, these baffle plates extend throughout the length of chamber 26 in a vertical position and across said chamber at about 44 degrees from a radial line to the base of inner extremity of deflecting surfaces 27; surrounding bafile plates of sleeve 25 is a perforated brass or wire screen 28; its purpose is' to destroy eddy currents, which would be set up by the water flowing through a passage of alternating area of cross-section, and a further object is to catch any extraneous matter such as chips, fiber, etc., improperly or unavoidably introduced, to prevent such matter from clogging the mud nozzles 29, shown in Fig. 5, located in the apex of pockets 30 in member 17; said mud nozzles 29 are substantially the frustum of a cone, threaded on beveled surface, concave at small or inner end, screwdriver slot on base or large end, they are also provided with a conical, central, longicasting tudinal perforation; they are made of steel and case hardened. These mud nozzles have small discharge openings, varying in size according to the size of the machine, and are screwed into the apex of the pockets 30 of member 17 at about 45 or 50 degrees of a radial line; the size of the orifice in these nozzles is determined by the volume of water desired to pass through them, necessary to abrade and carry the impurities, and it should be borne in mind that the Water, at this point, is under great pressure; they are case hardened to better resist the scouring action of the Water, and are set at an angle as above stated for the purpose of discharging the poluted waters, counter to tangential direction due to centrifugal force, and thus a large percentage of energy absorbed by the water, and precipitants, at the peripheral discharge is conserved.

Within the pocket 30 which is formed by the deflecting surfaces of member 17, are placed ballle plates 31. Their position and construction are shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 7 and are retained in position by vertical rods 32, passing through the horizontal plates as shown in Fig. 5. Their purpose is to lessen the impact of the water on the driving side of the deflecting surface of pockets 30 and also to destroy eddy currents. In the discharge end of member 15* is placed an automatic valve 33, which consists of a bushing turned to fit into the recess of member 15*,

this bushing is centrally perforated for the reception of shaft 7 under a driving pit, the lower half of the bushing being cored in the to form the annular chamber as shown in Fig. 1, leaving a central hub which is bored out sufiiciently large for the introduction of the upper end of step 6; the band or annular ring thus formed prevents the water from entering the step bearing.

The upper portion of the bushing has a central hub or projection from the base of which a horizontal surface extends within a short distance of the priphery; this horizontal surface is perforated with a plurality of holes accurately spaced and reamed, the diameter of these holes should be less than the diameter of the balls used; extending from the outer edge of these ports, the bushingis turned so as to form an annular up- Ward-deflected surface of such pitch, that, when the balls are lifted from their seat and moved outward by centrifugal force, the center of gravity of the balls will be Within a perpendicular line drawn from their point of support, so the balls will fall back mto their seat somewhat before the rotation of the machine ceases. Balls 33 should be of hard bronze absolutely spherical and of a diameter directly as the size of the machine and inversely as the speed. They should not seat low enough to wedge. Midway between the balls 33' studs 33 are inserted into the bushing as shown in Fig. 6, and are for the purpose of preventing bunching and racing of the balls.

On the outer casing 8, and immediately opposite the mud nozzles 29, are placed flanges 34:, surrounding holes in the outer casing of suflicient size through which the operator may reach and withdraw or change mud nozzles 29, when necessary; said flanges being provided with plugs 35. .The following is the operation of this machine, which is preferably electrically driven by direct flexible connection to shaft 11; when the suction pipe (not shown) which is provided with the usual foot valve at the source of supply, and a T at the point of connection is bolted to elbow 10,'water is introduced into the machine, and the suction pipe, until both are filled; the water for th1s purpose should be supplied, either from a suitable stand-pipe or reservoir, under hydraulic head, orsuflicient elevation that the water will fiow by gravity into the machine. The motor is then started, the water that flows out of the mud-nozzles, until the machine has attained about one half speed, is supplied from the stand-pipe or reservoir; when the machine has attained this speed the Valve to stand-pipe or reservoir is closed, and the machine takes water under suction, as at about this speed the automatic valve operates, that is centrifugal force is sufficient to raise the balls 33*, from their seat and also centrifugal force of the liquid, in both liquid seals, at this speed, is sufficient to resist the action of suction, and no air will enter the machine. As the water enters the machine it is immediately subjected to centrifugal force, by the repulsive action of the worm 24, and the impeller blades 1.9; as the water leaves the impeller chamber 18 it enters the upper end of purifying chamber 26, under a low velocity of flow, as the area of cross-section at this point is about four times greater than the area of the intakeabove the Worm 24.

The tendency of the water to race as it enters the chamber 26, which is farther re moved from the center of rotation than the outer end ofimpeller blades 19, is prevented by baffle plates or webs 25 and as the velocity of flow is low, a corresponding slight impact upon their impelled sides occurs, thus avoiding shocks and eddy-currents; as the water starts downward it has attained its maximum velocity of flow in chamber 26 and at this point a greater part of the solid matter contained in the water is precipitated by centrifugal force; as the water flows downward and outward its velocity gradually diminishes, and owing to the angle at which the baffle-plates 25 are set and the intervening space between them, every portion of water contained in chamber 26 is brought in contact with the driving side of a battle-plate, where it deposits any foreign matter that it may contain, the adhesion of this material to the plate depends upon its character, and as it accumulates its density is increased, for it is subjected to the centrifugal force of its own gravity under accumulation, this force overcomes adhesion to the plate and. it s deflected along the battle-plate downward and outward, downward at the rate or velocity of flow of the water in that direction, outwardly at a velocity corresponding to the specific gravity of that, material acted upon by a predetermined centrifugal force, assisted by the water flowing in an outwardly direction.

The turbid water on the driving side of the battle-plates due to the scouring effect, is entirely local and does not pollute the waters beyond this immediate region; the concentration and accumulation of the finely divided matter has increased its density and centrifugal force tends to hold it against this surface in the process of its travel in chamber 26, these precipitants pass through-screen 28 and are delivered into pockets 30 where they are subsided and deflected toward suitable discharge outlets 29, which are so placed that the issuing water, carrying the precipitants, will jet in a direction counter to direction of rotation, and as the water will have a spouting velocity equal to the peripheral speed of the machine at this point, caused by its hydrostatic pressure, due to the centrifugal force the available energy thus conserved is apparent. When the water reaches the lower extremity of chamber 30, it is purged of all impurities capable ofremoval by centrifugal force. As the water flows through chamber 23 toward the center of rotation, the impeller blades 19 act as an impact wheel or turbine, for the water entering at their periphery loses its rotary velocity as it flows inward, and the impact upon these blades in the direction of rotation, assists in driving the machine, or in other words, this impact in the direction of rotation, equals the energy absorbed by the impeller blades 19, in subjecting the Water to centrifugal force, less friction, and loss due to the velocity of discharge.

This machine must be primed as previously described after every stop of the machine, as the machine will hold its priming only during operation. The liquid seal shown in Fig. 3, is not herein specifically claimed, the same being shown and specifically claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 626,848, filed May 12th 1911.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal water clarifier, a ro tary vessel in which separation takes place contained within a shell, provided w1th a centrifugal liquid seal, said vessel having an inlet provided with a centrifugal liquid seal, an outlet, a centrifugal actuated valve controlling said outlet, a chamber having outwardly tapering pockets provided with jet orifices at their diminished ends, said chamber provided with batlie plates surrounded by a strainer through which water must pass to reach the jet orifices of the pockets.

2. In a centrifugal water clarifier, a rotary vessel in which separation takes place contained within a shell, provided with a centrifugal liquid seal, said vessel having an inlet provided with a centrifugal liquid seal,-

an outlet, a centrifugal actuated valve controlling said outlet, a chamber having outwardly tapering pockets provided with jet orifices at their diminished ends, skeleton frames fitting into said pockets, said chamber provided with baffle plates surrounded by a strainer through which water must pass to reach the jet orifices of the pockets.

.In a centrifugal water clarifier, a rotary vessel in which separation takes place contained within a shell, provided with a centrifugal liquid sehl, said vessel having an inlet, provided with a worm, and also provided with a centrifugal liquid seal, an outlet, a centrifugal actuated valve controlling said outlet, a chamber having outwardly tapering pockets provided with jet orifices at their diminished ends, skeleton frames fitting into said pockets, and consisting of a plurality of vertical, and a plurality of horizontal plates secured together, said chamber provided with bafile plates surrounded by a strainer through which water must pass to reach the jet orifices of the pockets.

4. In a centrifugal water clarifier, a 1'0- tary vessel in which separation takes place, having an inlet, an outlet in communication with a chamber, said chamber provided with baflie plates having an angle of pitch in the direction of rotation as and for the purpose specified.

5'. Ina centrifugal water clarifier, a rotary vessel in which separation takes place, having an intake, an outlet in communication with a chamber, the outer walls of said chamber forming pockets, constituting deflecting surfaces converging to discharge outlets as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a centrifugal water clarifier, the comsaid depending sleeve, and also adapted to receive a liquid and retain it under centrifugal force, for the purpose of effecting a seal between the rotary and stationary members of said chambers.

7. A centrifugal water clarifier, comprising a vertical shaft having acylindrical enlargement, a vessel bearing a concentric relation to and inclosing said enlargement, and provided with end openings through which the shaft extends, the upper opening constituting an intake port and the lower a discharge port of the vessel; the same having outwardly tapering peripheral pockets having jet orifices at their diminished ends, a valve for the discharge port'adapted to open when the vessel is rotating at a predetermined speed and close when the revolution of the vessel falls below such speed. a

8. In a centrifugal water clarifier, a rotary vessel in which separation takes place, said vessel provided at one end with an intake, and at the opposite end with a discharge port, a perforated partition in said discharge port, and balls seated in the perforations thereof when not centrifugally actuated. a 9; In a centrifugal water clarifier, a rotary vessel in which separation takes place, having an inlet, an outlet, in communication with a chamber providedwith baffle plates surrounded by a screen, the outer walls of said chamber forming pockets, skeleton frames fitting into said pockets, and a discharge orifice in the reduced end of the pockets.

10. A centrifugal water clarifier, comprising a vertical shaft having a cylindrical enlargement, a vessel bearing'a concentric relation to and inclosing said enlargement, and provided with end openings through which the shaft extends, the upper opening constituting an intake port and the lower a discharge port for the vessel; the same having outwardly tapering peripheral pockets, means whereby the stationary and rotary members of the intake port are closed by a liquid seal when the vessel is rotating, a centrifugal actuated valve for the discharge port adapted to open when the vessel is rotating at a predetermined speed and closed when the revolution of the vessel falls be-- low said speed, and means within the vessel to subject water passing downward through the intake port into the vessel to centrifugal force.

11. A centrifugal water clarifier, comprising a vertical shaft having a cylindrical enlargement, a vessel bearing a concentric relation to and inclosing said enlargement, and provided with end openings through which the shaft extends, the upper opening constitutingan intake port and the lower a discharge portfor the vessel; the same having outwardly tapering peripheral pockets, means within the vessel to subject water to centrifugal force, and baffle plates within the vessel having an angle of pitch in the direction of rotation to intercept the impurities and check the water entering the vessel under centrifugal force.

12. A centrifugal water clarifier comprising a casing having an internal basin at its lower end and openings in its bottom, a vertical shaft extending through the casing and suitably journaled at its lower end, and projecting beyond the top of the casing, a vessel within the casing provided with an intake port at its upper end through which the shaft extends and a discharge port at its lower end to discharge intothe basin and through which the said shaft also extends; said vessel having outwardly tapering pockets having jet orifices at their diminished ends to discharge into the casing exterior of the basin, means for creating a water seal between the stationary and rotary members of the intake port, a perforated partition in the exhaust port, and balls resting on said partition and normally seated in the per forations thereof, and adapted when the vessel is rotating to roll outward and expose said perforations, and when the speed of rotation diminishes sufficiently to roll inward and reclose said perforations.

WILLIAM K. RICHARDSON. 'Witnesses:

W. L. RICHARDSON, C. P. RUTHERFORD. 

